Larch Tub Assembly – Australian sauna and Cedar hot tubs manufacturer

Ukko Larch Tub Staves — Larch staves for Ukko tubs

We’ve delivered Larch timbers for our hot tubs and started to manufacture few of them now.

Larch tub floors — Two tubs in production – test fitting at the factory

While we are test fitting few tubs, we would like to explain a little bit what’s involved in our tub assembly.

Step 1: Assemble tub floor

Depending on the size of the tub – tub floors supplied are in 2, 3 or 4 parts for easy transportation:

Tub floor assembly — 1.8m dia tub floor – comes in three parts

All that needs to be done is to connect all parts together and screw supplied joists in to place (marked on the tub floor for you):

Tub floor connected together — Tub floor parts connected together with the help of rubber mallet

Tub floor assembled — Joists screwed to the tub floor. (Joists positions are clearly marked on the floor for ease of assembly)

Note: Depending on tub size, there maybe only two joists instead of three.

Step 2: Attach staves on to the tub floor

Once your tub is test fitted, we will mark all the staves 1, 2, 3, 4 and son on. This makes it very easy for you – all you have to do is to follow the sequence:

1st stave attached to the floor — First stave is in place. There’s a duddo at the bottom of each stave to attach it on to the floor

Continue with inserting staves until all the staves are in place:

Attaching tub staves to the floor — Tub staves attached to the floor almost half way..

The last stave (we call it filler stave) is pre-made for you and needs to be placed with the small V – moving two neighboring staves on an angle and using rubber mallet get them attached to the floor:

Since Larch is harder than Cedar you will always have some staves somewhat separated at the top:

Larch tub staves at the top — Staves at the top before placing top ring in place

This will be resolved once you put stainless steel rings and tighten them up.

Step 3: Tighten bottom and top rings

Go around the tub and mark 70mm on every 5th or 6th stave (this is the distance where the ring will sit on):

Bottom ring — 70mm distance from the bottom of the stave to the ring

While tightening the ring, go around and make sure that the ring is evenly sits at 70mm on the tub staves:

Tightening rings — Tightening ring with the help of vise grip

Note: Tighten bottom ring as much as you can. Since it is against the tub floor, it needs to be as tight as you can turn the nut until you cannot move it any more. Before placing the top ring – use car ratchet-strap to tighten top staves. This would make it easier to insert top band and tighten it up: